US offers support to counter terrorism

Dhaka – The United States Sunday offered expertise and technical supports to Bangladesh in its counter terrorism efforts as Washington reiterated its pledge to stay beside the government in the crucial juncture when the country faced a cowardly terrorist attack on July 1, according to a BSS news agency report.The visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Desai Biswal, came up with the offer during her meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque at State guesthouse Padma this afternoon.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam also joined the meeting.
“We had a discussion with the US delegation on how we could address the current situation and further deepen cooperation in countering terrorism and violent extremism together,” Foreign Secretary Mohammad Shahidul Haque told reporters emerging from the meeting.
Biswal arrived in the morning on a two-day official visit to discuss “Bangladesh’s bilateral relations and security situations”.
Responding to a query, the foreign secretary said the US side proposed supports at various levels including training and finding out new strategies in countering terrorism. “The discussion on US support just started… we are positive to accept supports from the willing countries but the question is to find out the modalities,” he said.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Manpreet Anand were also present.
The US Assistant Secretary offered her condolences for the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Holey Artisan Bakery in the city’s Gulshan area on July 1 leaving 22 people mostly foreigners killed.
“We share the grief of our Bangladeshi partners…Our commitment to Bangladesh remains as robust as ever,” she said.
According to a press release issued by the US embassy after the meeting, the Assistant Secretary also offered U.S. expertise in building Bangladesh’s counterterrorism capabilities.
“We will continue our assistance in combating the global threat of terrorism that our countries both confront,” it added.
During her two-day stay in Bangladesh, Biswal is scheduled meet the embassy people, local businesses, and other diplomatic representatives before leaving Dhaka for Colombo Monday. – News Desk